CAVHCS to Improve Veteran Access

The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System has announced new steps to improve access to veterans. They include expanding tele-medical programs; revamping medical appointment procedures; hiring additional physicians; and expanding clinics hours to include Saturday clinics for primary care.

Members of Congress say a bill to improve veterans' health care is well within reach. Differing House and Senate bills needs to be reconciled but the votes on the respective measures was overwhelmingly approved in each chamber, lawmakers hope to have a finished product by the end of the month.

Republican Runoff

The state Republican Party has made it official. There will be a runoff for the state Senate seat in District 30. A final tally in the GOP primary shows Prattville engineer Clyde Chambliss lead the four candidate race with 49.9 percent of the vote in the primary June 3rd. Chambliss will be in a runoff with Millbrook businessman Harris Garner, who got 32 percent. The runoff election is July 15th.

ASU Research Grant

A $336,000 grant from the National Science Foundation is funding an inaugural Research Experience for Undergraduates or REU camp at Alabama State University. Ten college students from across the Southeast are spending nine weeks on the ASU campus learning and performing cutting edge nanobiotechnology and microbiology research.

GM Lawsuit

Montgomery attorney Jere Beasley who is representing a Georgia family in a wrongful death lawsuit against General Motors says the auto company is trying to move the case to federal court so it can use bankruptcy as a shield from the chain. Beasley said in a statement that GM's move runs counter to a promise made by CEO Mary Barra to family in crashes causes by defective ignition switches. The family of Brooke Melton sued GM after she was killed in 2010 when her 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt crashed in Cobb County, Georgia.